Stronger safety measures for children’s sand products
Proposed mandatory asbestos testing for children's toys and craft products containing sand will better protect Kiwi consumers, says Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer.
"Many New Zealanders have been understandably concerned about the discovery of asbestos in certain consumer sand products. Families should be able to buy a product off the shelf, or online, and trust that it is safe, particularly when it comes to items used by children," Mr Brewer says.
"Since this issue first emerged, government agencies have worked closely with businesses to support the recall of affected products and provide information to consumers. There have been 23 recalls covering around 46,000 products, and every product identified to MBIE as testing positive has been recalled. However, these products should never have entered our market in the first place.
"New Zealand has a range of product safety protections in place, but it's clear additional measures are needed to keep asbestos-contaminated sand products off our shelves and out of our homes, schools and early childhood centres.
"That's why this Government is proposing an unsafe goods notice requiring mandatory pre-sale testing of all toys containing sand, and decorative, art and craft products containing sand. It would apply whether the sand is accessible or sealed inside the toy, to address potential exposure through broken or misused products.
"An unsafe goods notice is a practical way to prohibit the sale of untested products in the short term. At the same time, I have also asked officials to explore comprehensive product safety regulation to address asbestos testing in the long term.
"It is vital that Kiwi parents, caregivers and teachers can have confidence that products available in New Zealand are safe, and this is an important step forward," Mr Brewer says.
Notes:
- The draft unsafe goods notice released today declares toys containing sand, and decorative, craft, or artistic goods containing accessible sand, to be unsafe goods unless:
- suppliers have obtained an electron microscopy-based test result confirming that no asbestos was detected; and
- at least three units of each product (or product variant) have been tested within the 12 months before importation (for imported products) or manufacture (for domestically produced products).
- The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is asking for feedback on the draft notice to ensure it will work in practice. Consultation documents are available on MBIE’s website: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/consultation-on-draft-unsafe-goods-consumer-sand-products-notice-2026
- Any final unsafe goods notice would come into force three months after it is issued, to allow importers and suppliers time to undertake testing. It would then be in place for 18 months.
- The Government will also investigate longer-term product safety regulations requiring regular asbestos testing.
- Anyone who has purchased recalled sand products is advised to contact the business they purchased the product from to discuss remedies available under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, including refunds and, where appropriate, compensation for losses associated with an unsafe product. Those who are unable to reach a resolution with the business may choose to apply to the Disputes Tribunal.
